Monday, August 25, 2008

We went to CNE to listen to a band (The Dylan Tree) that plays Bob Dylan songs. Not that I was a huge fan of Dylan's but he did have some songs that I liked. "Like a rolling stone" and "Tambourine Man" .(Bob Dylan himself sings the TM in that you tube video)

Before I got my brain working cleverly, the battery in my camera was going down and down. I managed to get one song completely, but only11 seconds of "Tambourine Man"

The musicians in the band are Canadians, and boy, was a ever impressed of their talent.

While waiting for the concert to begin, I was crocheting, and chatted with a lady from California.She said that she only uses sc stitch. That's so cool to be able to do that.

Here is a link to Xenobia's site. I think her work is fabulous. I believe that she uses only sc stitch.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

His party was great. There were lots of kids, lots of moms and dads, grandparents, aunts and uncles.

The table was full of goodies, meatballs, cookies, salads, some other stuff that I don't know thename for them. Plus, of course hamburgers, hotdogs, chicken, lots of water and other drinks.

The kids were having a ball in the pool, sliding down and playing with water. It was a great day, and even the rain stayed away.

Of course there was the cake, and this little birthday boy had the cake all over him and his face. That's what happens when one eats with his little fingers.

Today is another beautiful day. It was warm and sunny all day. I foolishly stayed inside all day, knitting a scarf for a co-worker, who will have a birthday on Thursday, but since she decided to take a vacation for that day, we are going to have a luncheon for her on Wednesday.There is no escape here for her. Here is a picture of the scarf. It is done in garter stitch, withsize 5 mm needles. The "yarn" is Eros Herwool. It's some sort of ribbon yarn. There is no way a pattern would show up, so just a plain garter stitch is the best.

Friday, August 15, 2008

It's funny how time flies when you are crocheting freeform stuff, or knitting socks (I can't believe I just said that).

Every day, or rather, night, after work I hit my seat by our dining table. Not to eat (well I do that too) but crochet. One day it was a freeform bag for Ravelympics, and one day it was still working on my freeform top/jacket/shawl...I have decided that I have no idea how the scrumbles will get together and form something wearable.

One little problem I have with that project is that I like to make little pieces and then crochet and crochet, and don't stop, and those little pieces take time to make, just as joining anything to form something sensible. I must say that this project is the most difficult project I have made. I know I made an Irish Crochet - type tunic, and also a jacket, using lots of IC motifs. This project on the hook now is strictly freeform, the way I like it, and it's taking forevvvverrr, because my thread is really thin. I bought the thread at CGOA Manchester, NH, Knit and Crochet show. Oh,and some of the thread I bought at Valley Forge Knit and Crochet show.

See, I do use my yarns and threads, maybe not immediately, but eventually. I hope the yarns from years and years ago don't hear me talk like that. Can you imagine, I had just bought someFiddlestick lace yarn to take part in Mysterystole 4 project, which will start in September.

I also have started three of four scarves for a co-worker, who has a birthday coming up, but she is not going to get the scarf. My fingers just don't work with a lace pattern right now. They are geared for free movement.

I took a break from everything else, and decided that I will be able to knit a pair of socks for our grandson, who is going to be one year in a two days.I started this morning, without a pattern, but after searching the websites, I decided that I just combine some of the patterns and then get the socks done. The yarn is Regia Crazy Colors, and the colors are crazy, indeed. I tried four times to match the yarn for the second sock. I kind of did, but the yarn played a trick on me, the colors didn't run as perfectly as I expected, so some of the stripes are off. I am sure our one-year old little boy isn't going to worry about some designfeatures that grandma had done.

This afternoon, after work, I went grocery shopping, and wouldn't you know there was a new Vogue Knitting magazine.

I have not had time to look very closely at the patterns, but have been drooling over some new stuff that is appearing in the market for knitters.

I hope some of these neat gadgets are going to be at Portland Knit and Crochet show. I have made a decision, I will not buy yarn, just gadgets and perhaps that fancy knitting bag that is shown in VK magazine. It's a must to have for me.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Yes, I have my knitting with me. Actually I have three knitting choices, and a crochet

choice. I have never been quick to decide what I want to do. Perhaps that is why I have such a bad case of perpetual startitis.

In my younger days it was not so noticeable, because my yarn stash contained only

current work in process (WIP) project. However, my magazine collection had started

in those early days, by subscriptions to magazines that were available. All of them were

for knitting. My mom was the one who collected crochet booklets, and then eventually

gave them to me. I have kept the tradition in good shape.

For tonight I have two sock starts. One is Seaweed pattern by Wendy Johnson. I had started

it with another yarn (Clown, 1786), but realized that the yarn and the pattern had some issues in making a harmonious union. I frogged the sock starts just to the beginning of the lace pattern and decided that this yarn was meant to fly solo. No special patterns, just plain stockinette stitch. Good choice.

Second sock is with Patons Sock Stretch yarn, boy is it ever soft and stretchy, when touched, but not so soft when knitted. It has some cotton mixed in with wool, and that cotton might make it a little bit harder than plain wool would. Which is fine with me, I prefer the cool hint of the cotton that this yarn gives.

The pattern is Seaweed by Wendy Johnson, and although the yarn color isn't perfect, it will do much better than the other yarn.

All these pictures were taken at my desk, and none of thse projects are blocked. The scarf start really isn't giving the real picture, but it will follow, as soon as it's done and properly handled.

Now, I do not want to take too much stuff with me, so I need to do some smart thinking about my take-along projects. Oh, I forgot the crocheting project. That would be freeform, no pattern, just thread and hook. The liiittttle problem would be the small hook and thin yarn. If I dropped the hook, I probably would not find it (it's size 10 steel hook) and thread is size something, between 10 and 20, I think. I am not sure if I want to fiddle with that stuff, I need a table and good light, and nobody bothering me, so that my mind can guide my hook to incredibly imaginative designs.

You guessed it, the plain stockinette stitch sock it will be, since there is no hope in hell that I would be able to follow a lace stitch pattern, either in that scarf or that sock; after all

I am going to a baseball game to watch Blue Jays, and some other team, duh, Oakland, I think.

Do you think I should check the names of the players, or do I just go to the event for fun?

I am sure I will have some pictures later on, since I have my minuscule camera with me.

About Me

Dolls are my thing -
I will knit or crochet
on a whim -
I will knit a sweater
if I must -
Give me yarn and needles -
and you can feel my lust -
Poet I am not -
but with knit and crochet
I can create a knot.